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St Edward
the Confessor, RAF Coltishall

I
had just visited the rather splendid church of All
Saints, Scottow. This is set on a fine old estate village
that cuts into the edge of the vast airbase of RAF
Coltishall. Rather than head back out to the main road, I
followed the farm track, and eventually came out in the
base housing.

It always depresses me that base
houses are built out of light brick; RAF Wattisham in
Suffolk is the same. You end up with a scruffy housing
estate that might as well be in the dreary suburbs of
Peterborough or Cambridge rather than anything properly
East Anglian. I guess the MOD has a national contract
with brick producers in Bedfordshire. Oh well.

Near the shops was a large sign
saying ARMED GUARDS ARE ON PATROL IN THIS AREA, and
behind it was the church. For a wild moment I fantasised
that the churchwardens had read the entry for Lingwood on
my site, and were preparing for any eventuality. It
immediately leapt to second place in my 'favourite signs
I have seen in the grounds of churches' chart, tucking in
neatly behind NO SHOPPING TROLLEYS BEYOND THIS POINT at
Cavendish Community Church in Felixstowe.

St Edward the Confessor is a fairly
standard 1970s two cell building, with offices taking up
half of what would be the nave. Again, pretty much like
the one at Wattisham. It actually has the status of a
chaplaincy, and is used by Catholics on a Saturday
evening and Anglicans on a Sunday; so there are no
churchwardens watching out for me. Pity. Peeking through
the window, I could see a lot of glitter and light wood.
Probably quite nice, but hardly worth looking for a key.

I headed on out of the base,
passing a sign facing the other way saying ALL VISITORS
MUST PRESENT THEMSELVES AT THE GUARD HOUSE TO OBTAIN A
PASS. Oops.